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Improve on education, employment and training performance, says Danczuk
Date published: 27/06/2008
Latest figures show that 77 per cent of 16-18 year olds are in education, employment or training in Rochdale and although this figure is an improvement on figures from recent years, Rochdale's Labour Parliamentary candidate wants the town to improve its performance as it is lagging behind other parts of the North West.
Simon Danczuk, has called on all political parties in Rochdale to commit to encouraging young people to participate in education and work based learning.
New figures reveal that a record 1.6 million young people aged 16 to 18 are now taking part in education, work or training. However, Rochdale has one of the worst records in the North West, with only St Helens, Salford and Tameside having lower 16-18 year old participation figures.
84 per cent of young people in Liverpool, 83 per cent in Bolton and 86 per cent in Manchester, are partaking in education, work or training.
“We need to do a lot more,” argued Mr Danczuk. “All politicians in Rochdale should be working hard to get social mobility moving and encouraging young people to better themselves is the best way of helping Rochdale start to realise its full potential.
“If young people in Rochdale are to have the best chance of getting on in life then I think we really need to encourage them to take up opportunities in education and training. Otherwise, I’m afraid Rochdale will be guilty of failing the next generation.”
Have Your Say
I think it would help keep young people in education if there was more flexibility with the EMA.
If the students are 10 minutes late (for whatever reason) on any ONE day they lose the whole of the EMA for that WEEK!
Off sick more than 2 days per term...EMA gone again.
It was also a fight to get forms signed for a partial refund of bus fares which a lot of students are entitled to. I had to go personally to get my daughters form signed as the college refused when she asked!
Following on from JohnB's comments, Holy Cross is one example of what the new Rochdale sixth form provision should aspire to be, not least because of the number of older adults doing uni degress there as well as 6th form provision. The inspirational head, who lives in this Borough, is retiring this summer. Shouldn't Irene Davidson and Terry Piggott be hiring Mike O'Hare to take the Rochdale project forwards?
All smiles by another Labour polotician, the Labour party never deliver!
Oh I am mistaken, when they are taking services away they do seem to be quick and secret!
It is very difficult to "encourage" people to take up opportunities in training and eductation when there is little prospect of work at the end of it. Is it better to be an enemployed and hopeless graduate - with a massive student loan around your neck or unemployed and unqualified - with the odd bit of window cleaning or plastering (black economy of course) on the side?
My son and most of his friends have voted with their feet after GCSE. They are going to Bury College, Holy Cross, Oldham College, Compton House,BRGS - in fact ANYWHERE but Hopwood Hall. We are setting up a sixth form college on Hopwood Hall Rochdale site. The hype around this is pretty much the same as the hype around the original college. Can we be assured that NO-ONE from Hopwood Hall will be involved?
By johnb @ 27/06/2008 23:35:36
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